Fans of Matthew Herbert will devour 21-year-old Michachu, AKA Mica
Levi, who is produced by the avant-garde genius. A classically trained
musician who has already been commissioned to write a piece for the
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Levi’s aesthetic falls more on the punk
side, with sparse lyrics that hurriedly stomp, punch and poke. In 13
songs, most under three minutes, she roars like a tiny Tom Waits over
layered electronic pop, vacuum cleaners, clanging glass bottles and
homemade instruments. “Lies” is a standout at 1 minute, 20 seconds,
with its missing-string rockabilly opening. We’re talking grimy, tinny,
weird and wonderful.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2009.